Articles Posted inDUI mugshots

Even Los Angeles DUI attorneys appreciate the comic relief of a funny mug shot. Mug shots have a history of use dating back to the 19th century for record keeping, identification, and investigation purposes. Most mug shots appear benign. Occasionally, however, we come across some doozies. Below we’ve detailed some of our favorites:

• Heavy heads. A Texan man required assistance keeping his head upright for his mugshot. The photograph depicts Sean Carl Payne with a wide-eyed expression as law enforcement personnel hold him upright to get a clear picture of his face. He faced public intoxication charges after a night out on the town. The Houston Press detailed the incident with an equation, “too many mugs, too many shots = a mugshot requiring assistance.”

• Thumbs up. Michelle Watson, a young Arizona woman, smiles and gives two thumbs up to the camera for her mugshot. Watson faced charges in 2011 for DUI, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest. She appears strangely proud of her accomplishments.

• Happy Birthday in poor taste. On Scott Disick’s (Courtney Kardashian’s long-time partner) 31st birthday, Khloe Kardashian posted pictures of his and her mugshot from past DUI charges online. Both appear disheveled in their mugshots, and the posting received public backlash for making fun of a serious matter.

• Too much of a head tilt. Photographers will tell you to tilt your head slightly for a more flattering picture. Erica Garcia tilted her head a little too much. Her off-center mugshot features her head leaning over to one side with her mouth open, as though she’s in the middle of a conversation. She faced felony DUI charges after wrecking her car in Sacramento.

Law enforcement uses mugshots for arrest files, but they also post the images for public knowledge. If you face arrest, standing out in a mugshot can hurt your credibility and reputation even if the courts clear you of all charges.

How should you respond to your recent and disarming charges? Call a qualified Los Angeles DUI defense lawyer (and ex-prosecutor) with nearly two decades of relevant legal experience.